Current collector



M. F. JONES CURRENT COLLECTOR Filed oct. 14, 194s June 1 7, 1947.

INVENTOR Maurice F30/yes.

ATT NEY WITNESSES:

Patented June `17, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,422,554 CURRENT coLLEc'roR Maurice F. Jones, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 14, 1943, Serial No. 506,199

(Cl. lill-49) 8 Claims.

My invention relates generally to current collectors, and has reference in particular to current collectors for collecting current from conductor rails and the like.

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved current collector that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and has improved operating characteristics.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a current collector wherein a current-collecting shoe is operatively connected to a support which drags the shoe along the conductor rail in either direction of operation of the collector. p

An important object of my invention is to provide a current collector of high current carrying capacity which occupies but little space and has a minimum weight.

It is also an object of my invention to provide for increasing .the current-collecting capacity of a current collector lby improving the operating characteristics and preventing nosing or chattering of the shoe in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide for floatingly mounting a current collector shoe by operatively. connecting it to a support so that the shoe may move relative to the support in a plurality of directions in order that it may readily follow deviations in alignment of the conductor from which it collec-ts current.

Yet another object .of my invention is to provide for relatively loosely mounting a current collector shoe on a support and. biasing it against 1a conductor so that it may follow deviations in the conductor, and yet provide for but limited movement of the shoe relative to the support, .so that it will not move beyond a predetermined position when the collector shoe travels beyond the end of the conductor, .and will accordingly be .'-in a position for remaking operating engagement 'with the conductor when the shoe remakes contact therewith.

fStill another .object of my invention is to provide for operatively connecting a current collector :shoe to a supportl at points beyond the ends of the shoe so as to permit movement of the shoe in .a plurality of directions relative to ther support and provide for pulling the shoe in either direction of operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide for resiliently mounting a current collector shoe on a`movable support so as to provide for a iloating movement ofthe shoe in a plurality of directions relative to the support. Y

A still further object .of my invention is-to provide for operatively connecting a current col.E lector shoe, which is disposed to move along a conductor in opposite directions, to a support member by means of pins adjacent the ends of one member loosely positioned in openings in the other member so spaced that engagement is made between .the pin and the edge of the opening at the leading ends of the shoe and the support members in either direction of operation.

Other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be explained hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, a pair of current collector shoes are mounted on elongated drag plates and are positioned on opposite sides of a support plate which operates the shoes. The drag plates are connected adjacent each end by telescoping rivets which iit loosely in openings so spaced in the support plate that the rivet at whichever is the leading end of the shoe engages the support plate and drags the shoe along, and the rivets prevent more than a predetermined displacement of the shoes relative to the support. Springs between the shoes bias them outwardly against current conducting rails between which the shoes ride, and flexible shunts connect the shoes to ,the support plate so as to provide a current path of high current carrying capacity.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in .whichz v Figure 1 isa side elevational view of a current collector embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 -is a sectional view taken along the line II-IIHof Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III--III of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, a current-co1- lecting assembly is shown, wherein a plurality of current collectors Il) may be secured to a bus II mounted on the frame I2 of a vehicle for collecting current from a pair of conductors such as the rails I3.

Each current collector I0 may, as shown, comprise a substantially U-shaped plow or support I4 adapted to be secured to the bus II by means such as the bolts I5. `The Ibus I I may be secured to the frame l2 ofthe vehicle in any suitable manner, being, for example, mounted thereon 'by means of insulators I6.. The plow may comprise a pair of U-shaped supportplates II positioned side by side and having dependent legs I8 and I9 at the ends Vwith outwardly deformed end porv adjacent the ends thereof.

` tions 20 adjacent the ends positioned in spaced be provided in the end portions of the legs I8 and I 9, respectively, for reasons which will be explained hereinafter. y Y

In order to provide for collecting current from the conductor rails I3, a pair of collector shoes 24 of copper graphite or other suitable conducting materia] may be positioned intermediate the dependent legs I8 and I9 of the plow or suppQrt I4. The shoes 2li may Ibe operatively connected to the plow I4 by means of the elongated resilient drag plates 25 oi Phosphor bronze strip or the like, which may be secured to .the shoes 24 by means of the screws 26. Y

The drag plates 25 extend ibeyond the ends of the shoes, and may be operatively connected to nected by means of. rivets 28 comprising telescoping members29 and 3G secured to the drag `plates Means such as the-flexible shunts 3l may be provided 'for electrically connecting 'the shoes to thee-plow or support.l For example, the shunts ZI'inay beco-nnected adjacent the ends to the plow or support b-y being secured between the outwardly'd'eformed end portions thereof and may be secured to the shoes intermediate the ends by means of clamp 'plates 32 having central openings 33 therein and secured to the shoes by the screws 26. Y n Y In `order .toprovide smooth operation of the shoesZG along the conductor rails I3 and prevent nosing or chattering of the shoes, they are preferably connected to the support I4 at points beyond the ends o f the shoes.

distance between the centers of the rivets is slightly less than the distance between the centers ofthe openings, the shoes 24 may beso opera-` tively` connected to the support I4 that they will be actuated byY engagement ofthe rivet'28 with For example, the` rivets 28 may be relatively loosely positioned in each other adjacent the ends so as to provide for o are pulled or dragged along the rails and are free n to move in a plurality of directions relative to the supports.

' From the above description and the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that I have provided in a simple and effective manner for securing smooth operation of current collector shoes along conductors. By dragging the shoes along the conductor instead of 'pushing them, nosing and chattering of the shoes are prevented. A remarkable increase in the currentcollecting capacity of the shoes results, without any apparent increase in the wear of the shoes or without any apparent reduction in the operating life thereof. By resiliently mounting `the shoes in floating relation to the support in the manner hereinbefore described, movement of the shoes relative to the support in order to follow deviations in the conductor is readily effected without detriment to the current-collecting characteristics, of the'shoes, and even though the collectors may travel beyondv the ends of the conductors', the shoes are maintained insuch positions that they may be readily run back thereon with a minimum of disturbance.

Since certain changes may bamade in the above description and Vdifferentembodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, itis intended that all the matter contained in the aboveV de[ scription :and shown in the accompanying ydr'a'fwings shall Vbe considered as illustrativev and not in a limiting sense. I claim as my invention: 1. A current collector comprising, apair of Yspace-d current collector shoes for engaging the adjacent surfaces of a pair o f spaced conductors, means biasing the shoes apart, a pair of drag plates secured one to each shoe, means operatively connecting the vdrag plates'adjac'ent the ends, and a support having portions thereof positioned between the drag plates with openin'gs'for theinner edge of the "openingfZI or 22, whicheve-r is at-'the leading end ofthe collector regardlessof the direction in which lthe lcollector itsy Ymoved.` Y Y dragged in either direction 'of operation.

In' order to biasthersh'oes against the rails,l

means such asthe spring'34 may `be positioned between the shoes to force them apart.

Y2i will' not move far fromI their normal 'operating position, andiV operating engagement `thereof with .the rail'may be easily Ymade with al minimum of movement When'the shoe returns tothe rail. 'With the construction hereinbefore described, thesho'es 241 are vresiliently ibiased against Vthe .conductor rails andfare'-floatinglyinounted'on the supports .for 'readilyffollowing-I deviationsv in 'i the rails.v 'In eith'e'rfdiectin of operation the shoes The shoes arey therebyspulled or The Aspring 34 may be positioned inthe openings 33 in the clamp plates 32, which aref-provided forseloosely receiving the connecting means.

2. In a current collector for engaging a pair of spaced conductors, a pair of spaced shoes,means positioned between the shoes tobias them apart, a resilient ldrag plate member secured to each of the shoes, a support member, 'andmeans opera:- tively connecting the drag plate members for limited movement 'relative to each other?andto the, support member forlimited'movenient relative thereto in a plurality of directions-said' means providing a connection Withthefsupportmember at the leading ends of the drag plates for'dragging the shoes.A v

3. A- current collector"cvzoifnprising,` afpairof spaced apart shoemembers disposed'tobepositioned between a pair ofjspacedapart conductors, means biasing the shoesy apart, asupp'ortposi tionedintermediate the shoes Vvandextending longitudinally thereof, an elongated" drag' plate secured to each' shoe and projecting beyondthe ends thereof, and means operativelyconnecting the drag plates at points beyond" the endsoic` the shoes for 'movement toward jor vaway from. :each other, said means operativelyiconnecting `the Adrag plates tothe supportso asjto y'providefer"dragging the shoes inresponse to movement. of the support in either direction., 4

4. A current collector comprisinga-nelongated Vsupport memberhaving spaced'sapart:dependent legsV with openings therein;r aj pair of collector shoes positioned intermediate thie'legson'ntheoppositeY sides of the supportjfnie' ber,.a'n" elongated drag plate secured tol each' collectr" shoe an'dxtending alongside the support member, and means operatively connecting the drag plates adjacent the ends comprising telescopic rivets passing through the openings in the dependent legs of the support member.

5. A current collector comprising, an elongated support plate having dependent legs positioned adjacent the ends with openings therein, an elongated resilient 'drag plate positioned 0n each side of the support plate having a collector shoe mounted on the outer side intermediate the ends, means positioned intermediate the collector shoes to bias them away from each other, and telescopic rivet means operatively connecting the drag plates adjacent the ends and permitting relative movement of the plates toward or away from each other, said rivet means being loosely positioned in the openings of the dependent legs of the support plate and so spaced that the distance be tween the centers thereof is greater than the distance between the centers of the openings.

6. In a current collector, in combination, a support plate having dependent spaced apart legs with openings therein, an elongated drag plate positioned on each side of the support plate in spaced relation with the plate, a current collector shoe mounted on each drag plate intermediate the ends thereof, telescopic means operatively connecting the drag Yplates adjacent the ends to provide for movement thereof relative to each other, said means passing loosely through the openings in the dependent legs of the support plate so as to provide ior'dragging the shoe in response to movement in either direction of the support plate, eXible shunt means connected between the dependent legs and tothe shoes, and springs positioned between the collector shoes for biasing them apart.

7. In a current collector for engaging a pair of spacedv apart conductors, a support having dependent spaced arms with openings adjacent the ends, a pair of exible conductors extending between said ends, a pair of elongated relatively flat drag plates positioned on opposite sides of the support having collector shoes securedthereto intermediate the ends on the outer sides, means connecting the ends of the drag plates to each other and to the ends of the support in movable relation, means connecting the conductors to the drag plates intermediate the ends, and resilient means biasing the drag plates apart,

8. A current collector comprising, a pair of spaced apart shoes for engaging spaced apart conductors, a drag plate secured to the adjacent side of each shoe and extending beyond the shoe, a support having pairs of spaced apart dependent arms adjacent the ends of the drag plates, flexible shunt members secured between the spaced apart arms and to each shoe, spring means positioned between the drag plates to bias the shoes apart, and means operatively connecting the .adjacent ends, of the drag plates to each other and to the dependent arms of the support.

MAURICE F. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

